Would this New York Mets-Milwaukee Brewers trade work?

In this article, we continue our series of examining fan-proposed trades made to former Major League Baseball general manager Jim Bowden for articles published in The Athletic. Today, we look at a hypothetical trade between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers.

Would this fan-proposed trade between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers work in real life?

Seemingly every time a trade circulating around the Milwaukee Brewers is discussed, relief pitcher Josh Hader is involved. The 27-year-old southpaw has racked up 96 saves in his five-year career with the Brewers. That includes last season when he earned his third All-Star Game nod by posting 34 saves, a 1.23 ERA, 0.835 WHIP, and 15.6 strikeouts per nine innings.

Hader isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2023 season. With a mixture of skill on the mound and team control, it’s no surprise that he is so desired by other teams.

However, let’s be clear, it would take a lot for the Brewers to part with him. After all, this is a franchise that captured the National League Central last season with 95 wins and has made moves already this offseason to strengthen the lineup in preparation for a deeper postseason run in 2022.

But does this deal proposed by a fan to The Athletic (subscription required) contain enough to pry Hader out of Milwaukee and into the hands of the New York Mets? Bowden thinks so.

In the hypothetical trade, Hader is sent to the Mets in exchange for Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith (both versatile players who have seen time in the infield and outfield) as well as right-handed pitching prospect J.T. Ginn. Bowden calls it “an offer I can’t refuse” if he is the Brewers.

Why? It’s been discussed that McNeil is likely on his way out of New York after a run-in last season with teammate Francisco Lindor, plus Robinson Cano is once again joining the team after serving his suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, blocking McNeil at second base. McNeil owns a career slash line of .299/.364/.459 and Bowden believes those numbers would transfer to Milwaukee where he could play second base or left field when needed.

Smith, meanwhile, could provide an answer for the Brewers at designated hitter and first base. His power, Bowden believes, could produce 20 homers for Milwaukee while hitting .300 with a .350 on-base percentage. Last season, the 26-year-old Smith slashed .244/.304/.363 with 11 home runs in 446 at-bats. This season, he will likely battle for playing time with some of the new offseason additions already made by the Mets (including Mark Canha, who could take over left field). That means Smith may be on the outside looking in unless New York can find a place for him or a trade partner.

Ginn was a second-round pick of the Mets during the 2020 MLB draft and is ranked as the team’s fifth-highest prospect after reaching High-A last season, where he started 10 games and posted a 3.38 ERA in 53.1 innings.

The fan-proposed trade would give the Mets a lockdown presence in the game’s final moments while pushing MLB-ready talent to Milwaukee, as well as a potential piece of the rotation in the future. If you’re a Brewers fan, is this really enough to trade Hader? If you’re a Mets fan, would you make this deal? Let us know in the comments section below.